Recording medium for storing information for still picture, recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A recording medium for storing information for still pictures, and a recording and/or reproducing method and apparatus therefor. A writeable and rewriteable recording medium stores data for a plurality of still pictures and audio data added thereto in one file or a space having a logically one-dimensional order, rather than in each file, and still picture group information for separating the still picture data into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a group level is then stored on the recording medium. Thus, large-capacity still picture data and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/or reproduced using a minimum amount of information. The still picture group information includes general information for still picture groups, and information for still pictures in each still picture group. The general information for each still picture group includes the start position of a first still picture in each still picture group (the start position of each still picture group). The information for still pictures in each still picture group includes the sizes of video data and audio data for each still picture. Therefore, effective management of information is allowed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of application Ser. No. 09/339,192 filed Jun. 24,1999.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application Nos. 98-23993,filed Jun. 24, 1998 and 98-41758, filed Oct. 2, 1998, in the KoreanPatent Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recording and/or reproducing audioand/or video data using a rewriteable recording medium, and moreparticularly, to a recording medium for storing still pictures and audiodata added thereto for effective processing, and a recording and/orreproducing method and apparatus therefor.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a connection structure for various kinds of information ina moving picture and moving picture data, in recording/reproducing audioand/or video data on a recordable and/or rewriteable recording medium,specifically, a digital versatile disk (DVD), and more precisely, itillustrates the relationship between program chain (PGC) information 11for treating data logically, moving picture information 12 consisting ofvideo object (VOB) information, and a moving picture data file 13 inwhich actually compressed audio/video (A/V) data are recorded in VOBunits.

First, terms used throughout the specification will now be described.Supposing a movie was recorded in first and second parts, the overallmovie is a program chain (PGC) and the first and second parts areprograms. Also, each program can be defined by further dividing the sameinto several cells called sub-units. The information in each cell canwholly or partially define a video object (VOB). In such an event, eachcell is used as a basic accessing unit during reproduction, and theprogram and PGC are only the information for connectivity between aplurality of cells.

Also, since data is actually sub-divided into video object units (VOBUs)and recorded in a moving picture data file, the VOB information consistsof various kinds of information relating to the VOBU data, that is, VOBU#1, VOBU #2, . . . and the VOB data in the moving picture data file 13is accessed by the VOB information. Here, the VOB data is used as arandom access unit of a disk recording/reproducing apparatus. The VOBUis based on a single GOP (Group of Pictures) in the case of an MPEG(Moving Picture Experts Group) video, and audio data corresponding tovideo data is collected, that is, A/V data is multiplexed into sectors,to constitute a VOBU.

The data format shown in FIG. 1 is concerned with the moving picture, inwhich the unit of actual data, the VOB, comprises moving picture datafor a fixed period of time. Synchronization or encoding of A/V signalsis performed in units of VOBs. However, in the case of a still picture,each VOB constitutes a still picture. When a VOB is designated in a cellstructure, a cell is necessary for each still picture. Thus, as morestill pictures are recorded, more information is added.

Generally, data errors may be generated if data is recorded on arecordable disk a predetermined number of times. Thus, there is a limitin the number of times of rewriting data on a disk. All information isstored in the memory of a controller for controlling the system for thepurpose of limiting the number of recording times and rapidly accessingdata. However, as described above, in the case of a still picture, ifthe amount of information is increased, much time is required forreading the information. Also, there is a limit to the amount ofinformation that can be stored in a memory with a limited size.Accordingly, it is not possible to record large-capacity still pictures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problems, it is a first object of the presentinvention to provide a recording medium for effectively storing stillpicture group information for separating large-capacity still picturesinto a plurality of groups in order to manage the still pictures at agroup level.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a recordingmedium for generating still picture group information containing videoinformation for a still picture or video information for a still picturehaving audio data added thereto, and audio data, in the recording orderof recorded bitstreams and storing the same.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a method ofrecording still picture group information for separating large-capacitystill pictures into a plurality of groups in order to manage the stillpictures at a group level, and cell information related to reproduction,and for reproducing a still picture according to the recordedinformation.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a method ofrecording still picture group information containing video informationfor a still picture or video information for a still picture havingaudio data added thereto, and cell information related to reproduction,and reproducing the still picture or the still picture having audio dataadded thereto according to the recorded information.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide an apparatusfor recording still picture group information for separatinglarge-capacity still pictures and audio data added thereto into aplurality of groups in order to manage the still pictures at a grouplevel, and reproducing the still picture or both the still picture andthe audio data added thereto according to the recorded information.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

To achieve these objects, there is provided a recording medium includinga first region having data for a plurality of still pictures, and asecond region having still picture group information for separating thestill picture data in the first region into within a predeterminedmaximum number of groups in order to manage the still pictures at agroup level.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method ofrecording and/or reproducing audio and/or video data on a writeableand/or rewriteable recording medium including the steps of (a) recordinga plurality of input still pictures, and (b) separating the plurality ofstill pictures into within a predetermined maximum number of groups, andrecording still picture group information and playback informationrelated to reproduction thereof.

Also, the method according to the present invention may further includethe steps of (c) reading still picture group information to bereproduced in accordance with the playback information, and (d)calculating the position of a desired still picture in accordance withthe read still picture group information and reproducing the stillpicture data located at the calculated position.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided areproduction method of a recording medium comprising a first regionhaving data for a plurality of still pictures, a second region havingstill picture group information for separating the still picture data inthe first region into within a predetermined maximum number of groups inorder to manage the still pictures at a group level, the reproductionmethod comprising the step of reproducing the still picture data in thefirst region, based on the still picture group information in the secondregion.

The apparatus according to the present invention includes a recordingprocessor to signal-process a plurality of still pictures to be recordedin a first region on the recording medium, and a controller to generatestill picture group information for separating the still pictures in thefirst region into within a predetermined maximum number of groups inorder to manage the still pictures at a group level and playbackinformation related to a reproduction order of the still pictures to beplayed back, and to control the generated information to be recorded ina second region of the recording medium.

Also, the apparatus may further include a playback processor forreproducing still picture data in the first region based on the stillpicture group information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereofwith reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a connection structure of various kinds ofinformation and data in a moving picture;

FIG. 2 shows an example of an overall information structure according tothe present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a relationship between various kinds of information andstill picture data in a still picture according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between still picture data and stillpicture group information according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between cell information and still picturegroup information;

FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of still picture group informationaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of thestill picture group general information shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates the structure of a still picture map table shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of avideo map in the map table shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of anaudio map connected to the video map shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of cellinformation for the still picture shown in FIG. 6;

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a flow chart showing a method for recordinga still picture according to an embodiment of a present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a method for reproducing a still pictureaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of recording media for storing theinformation for a still picture, and recording and/or reproducing methodand apparatus therefor, will be described.

Reference will now made in detail to the present preferred embodimentsof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order toexplain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an overall information structure according tothe present invention, in which information including PGC information,moving picture information and still picture information can be recordedin an information file or an information area.

Here, PGC general information contains information such as the number ofprograms in a PGC. Program general information contains information suchas the number of cells in a program. The cell information designates aVOB in the case of a moving picture, as shown in FIG. 1, and designatesa still picture VOB group (to be abbreviated as “still picture group”for brevity) instead of a VOB, in the case of a still picture, as shownin FIG. 3. Since the moving picture information has already beendescribed with reference to FIG. 1, a description thereof will beomitted herein and still picture information according to the presentinvention will now be described. Still picture general informationcontains information relating to the number of kinds of still picturegroup information, and additional audio general information for thestill picture contains information relating to the number of kinds ofadditional audio group information.

FIG. 3 shows the connection structure of various kinds of informationand still picture data in a still picture. In other words, in a stillpicture recorded in units of VOBs in a data file, a plurality of VOBsfor still pictures are managed by a still picture group, and cellinformation contained in the PGC information 21 designates still picturegroup information (GVOB), rather than a single item of VOB information.Also, audio data may be recorded in addition to the still picture. Theaudio data is recorded consecutively after the still picture isrecorded, thereby reducing the search time of a reproducing head duringreproduction. The audio data recorded together with the still picture iscalled original audio data, which is contained in the still picturegroup. In the present invention, unless specifically defined, a stillpicture represents both one having only a video part and one having theoriginal audio part and the video part.

By managing the still picture by grouping the same in such a manner, theamount of cell information and still picture information can be reduced.For example, video coding attributes or audio coding attributes in astill picture group are assimilated, thus forming still picture groupgeneral information, and stored as common information. For therespective still pictures, the positions thereof in the still picturedata file must be indicated. In the case when the still pictures are notseparated into a plurality of groups, the start positions of therespective still pictures must be indicated. However, in the case whenthe still pictures are grouped, the start position at which thepertinent still picture group starts to be recorded in a file is storedin the still picture group general information and then only the sizesof the respective still pictures are recorded as the information for therespective still pictures. Since the amount of information indicative ofthe size of still picture data, i.e., the number of bytes, is generallyless than that indicative of the position in a file, the overall amountof information can be reduced.

In order to locate a recording position of a specific still picture inthe still picture group, the start position of the still picture groupdata contained in the still picture group general information is addedto the size of the data preceding the still picture to be located. Also,in order to read audio data added to a still picture, the locatedposition of the still picture is added to the size of a video part ofthe still picture.

In the case of a still picture group, video parts and audio parts areconsecutively recorded in a file or space. Thus, the video informationand the audio information each containing the size thereof are alsorecorded in a bitstream order in which the video data and the audio dataare actually recorded. Thus, the respective regions shown in FIG. 3 canexist in the form of a still picture file 23 to which audio data may beadded, and an information file containing cell information contained inthe PGC information 21 and still picture information 22. The stillpicture file 23 can be designated by a first region, and the informationfile containing the PGC information 21 and the still picture information22 can be designated by a second region which is a logic region.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a recording/reproducing apparatus forimplementing the present invention. The function of an apparatus forrecording/reproducing A/V (audio/video) data using a recordable andrewriteable disk is largely divided into recording and reproduction.

During recording, an AV codec 110 compression-codes an externallyapplied A/V signal by a predetermined compression scheme and suppliessize information for compressed data. A digital signal processor (DSP)120 receives A/V data supplied from the AV codec 110, adds additionaldata for ECC (error correction code) processing thereto and performsmodulation using a predetermined modulation scheme. A radio frequencyamplifier (RF AMP) 130 converts electrical data supplied from the DSP120 into an RF signal. A pickup 140 drives a disk and records the RFsignal supplied from the RF AMP 130, incorporating an actuator forfocusing and tracking. A servo 150 receives information necessary forservo control from a system controller 160 and stably performs a servofunction. The system controller 160 controls the overall system throughinterfacing with a user to thus control the still picture to be recordedon the disk and record separate information for the recorded stillpicture. Still picture data are managed at a group level by constructingthe still picture group information of the information for therespective still pictures, including size information of still picturedata, size information of audio data, playback time information of audiodata and the like, and the position information of the respective stillpictures, in the recording order of recorded still pictures and audiodata. Cell information concerning the reproduction order is recorded aswell as the above-described information. The cell information containsinformation indicative of the recorded still picture group so that therecorded still picture and audio data can be reproduced.

During playback, the pickup 140 picks up the optical signal from thedisk having data stored therein and the data is extracted from theoptical signal. The RF AMP 130 converts the optical signal (that is, RFsignal) into electrical data, and extracts a servo signal for performinga servo function, and modulated data. The DSP 120 demodulates modulateddata supplied from the RF AMP 130 corresponding to the modulation schemeused during modulation, performs an ECC process to correct errors andeliminates added data. The servo unit 150 receives information necessaryfor servo control from the RF AMP 130 and the system controller 160 andstably performs a servo function. The AV codec 110 decodes thecompressed A/V data supplied from the DSP 120 to output an A/V signal.The system controller 160 controls the overall system for reproducingthe user's desired data (still picture only, still picture+audio data orstill picture+additional audio data) using the cell information andstill picture group information stored on the disk while performing userinterfacing such as processing of the user's key inputs.

In other words, in order to reproduce a specific still picture and audiodata, the still picture group information having the still picture to bereproduced is obtained from the cell information, information such asthe size of the still picture data and the information for the data sizeand playback time of audio data, if any, is obtained from the stillpicture group information, thereby reproducing only desired data. Here,the A/V codec 110, the DSP 120, the RF AMP 130 and the pickup 140operating during recording can be referred to as a recording processor.Also, the pickup 140, the RF AMP 130, the DSP 120 and the A/V codec 110operating during playback can be referred to a reproduction processor.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between still picture data and stillpicture group information, in which the information for a plurality ofstill pictures (e.g., 64 maximally) having the same attributes isrecorded in the respective still picture group (GVOB) information 201.The number of the still pictures forming each still picture group isdetermined such that it is within the limit of the maximum number ofstill pictures. Each still picture group information 202 includes stillpicture group general information and information for the respectivestill pictures and is information for still picture data 203 includingvideo parts and video or audio parts in a sequence of bitstreamsrecorded. The still picture group general information has the startaddress of the corresponding still picture group.

Also, as information for the respective still pictures, still pictureinformation having audio data exists in the form of map informationincluding video part information for video parts and audio partinformation for audio parts. Here, a video map and an audio map for astill picture have the same identification information. If the stillpicture information includes only video parts, it exists in the form ofmaps having only the video part information. Here, still picture data isrecorded in VOBs.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between cell information (which can alsobe referred to as playback information) and still picture groupinformation, in which a cell is a logical unit in relation to indicationof a reproduction order. The cell information includes still picturegroup identification information (GVOB_ID), still picture reproductionstart identification information (START VOB_ID) of the correspondingstill picture group and still picture reproduction ending identificationinformation (END VOB_ID). The cell information may correspond to all thestill picture groups or may correspond to only some of the still picturegroups which are intended to be reproduced.

FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of still picture group informationaccording to the present invention, which includes still picture groupgeneral information and a still picture map table, and may furtherinclude attribute information for a still picture such as picture sizesor video encoding modes.

FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of stillpicture group general information shown in FIG. 7, which includesGVOB_ID representing information for identifying a still picture groupin a still picture file, GVOB_S_ADR representing the start address offirst still picture data in the corresponding still picture group in thestill picture file, GVOB_Ns representing the number of still pictures inthe still picture group, and so on. Here, the identification informationGVOB_ID can be expressly recorded as a unique one for each still picturegroup in a still picture file or can be suggestively indicated in theorder of still picture groups, that is, #1, #2, . . . .

FIG. 9 illustrates the structure of the still picture map table shown inFIG. 7. There are two types of maps; one is video maps VMAPs for videoparts and the other is audio maps AMAPs for audio parts added tocorresponding still pictures. The order of maps is the same as that ofdata of recorded bitstreams in a still picture file as shown in FIG. 5.Thus, in the case when a still picture has only a video part, there isonly a video map. In the case when a still picture has audio data inaddition to the video part, both a video map and an audio map arerecorded and are practically considered as one map using the sameidentification information.

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of avideo map in the map table shown in FIG. 9, containing MAP_TY indicatingthe type of a corresponding map and represented by a binary “0” in thecase of a video map for a video part, VOB_ID indicating identificationinformation for the video part and ranging from 1 to 64 in preferredembodiments. Also, VOB_ID can be expressly indicated or suggestivelyindicated in the recording order, that is, #1, #2, #3, . . . .

Also, the video map contains V_PART_SZ indicating the size of the videopart. Here, VOB_ID and V_PART_SZ can be referred to as still pictureposition information.

FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of anaudio map, containing MAP_TY indicating the type of a corresponding mapand represented by a binary value “1” in the case of an audio map for anaudio part, A_PBTM indicating the playback time of the audio part andA_PART_SZ indicating the size of the audio part.

FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of the detailed contents of cellinformation for a still picture, shown in FIG. 7, containing S_GVOB_IDindicating identification information for a still picture group,S_VOB_ID indicating identification information for a still picture inwhich reproduction starts, and E_VOB_ID indicating identificationinformation for a still picture in which reproduction ends.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a flow chart showing a method of recordinga still picture according to an embodiment of the present invention,that is, a method of recording a still picture and audio data. First, itis determined whether a still picture or both a still picture and audiodata is to be recorded (step S101). Still picture group information isgenerated, identification for a still picture group is allocated, thenumber of still pictures in the still picture group is set to “0” andthe start address of the still picture group in a still picture file isrecorded (step S102). It is then determined whether a recording startsignal of a still picture is input by a user or not (step S103). If therecording start signal is input, the still picture is recorded in thestill picture file, identification information for the still picture isallocated to the still picture group information, the number of stillpictures in the still picture group is increased by one and the sizeinformation of the still picture is recorded in the video map (stepS104).

It is determined whether or not a mode set by a user is for recordingboth a still picture and audio data (step S105). If yes, the audio datafor the still picture is recorded following after the correspondingstill picture on the still picture file and the audio size informationis recorded in an audio map in the still picture group information (stepS106).

It is determined whether the number of still pictures recorded exceeds amaximum number possible to constitute the information for a stillpicture group (e.g., 64 maximally) (step S107). If the still picturegroup information is completed, the procedure returns to step S102 togenerate another still picture group information. Otherwise, theprocedure proceeds to step S103 to determine whether a recording startsignal of a still picture is input by a user or not.

If the mode set by a user is for recording only a still picture in stepS105, step S106 is skipped and the procedure proceeds to step 107 torecord the next still picture. If the recording start signal of a stillpicture is not input by a user in step S103, it is determined whether ornot to terminate recording (step S108). If it is determined to terminaterecording, cell information is recorded and the procedure ends (stepS109). Here, the cell information is created for every still picturegroup so as for all still pictures to be reproduced.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a method of reproducing a still pictureaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, a methodof reproducing a still picture and audio data added thereto. Referringto FIG. 14, PGC information and cell information are read (step S201).Identification information for a still picture group to be reproduced,playback start identification information and playback endingidentification information are read from the cell information to readthe still picture group information pointed to by the cell (step S202).Video map information for the video part corresponding to the playbackstart identification information in the read still picture groupinformation is obtained to read the size of a video part, or both videomap information and audio map information are obtained in the case of astill picture having audio data to read the size of a video part and thesize of an audio part (step S203).

The position of a desired still picture is calculated by the read videopart information and video data located at the calculated position isread and decoded to reproduce the still picture (step S204). Here, theposition of a desired still picture is obtained by summing the startposition of a still picture group and the size of data preceding thedesired still picture. While the still picture is reproduced, it isdetermined whether audio data is added to the still picture (step S205).If yes, the audio data is read and decoded to reproduce the audio data(step S206). Here, the reading position of the audio data is obtained bysumming the calculated position of the still picture and the size of avideo part of the still picture. It is checked whether all stillpictures belonging to a cell are reproduced or not using the cellinformation and then it is determined whether or not there is a stillpicture to be reproduced next (step S207). If yes, the information forthe video part of the still picture to be reproduced next is read (stepS203). Otherwise, the procedure is terminated. In the case when thereare a plurality of series of cell information, this routine is repeated.

Here, the step of determining whether audio data is added to a stillpicture (step S205) may be performed directly after the step of readingthe still picture group information (step S202). This is because it ispossible to determine that audio data is added to a still picture in thecase when an audio map for an audio part is added subsequently to avideo map for a video part, in accordance with the still picture groupinformation.

Before reproduction, a reproduction mode may be set through a userinterface to determine whether only a still picture is to be reproduced,or both a still picture and audio data are to be reproduced.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality ofstill pictures and audio data added thereto can be recorded and/orreproduced using minimum information by storing still picture groupinformation for separating the plurality of still pictures and audiodata into within a predetermined maximum number of groups in order tomanage the still pictures at a group level.

Also, according to the present invention, since the still picture groupinformation includes still picture group general information as thecommon information in the recording order of bitstreams of stillpictures and audio data added thereto, and video part information andaudio part information are constructed for each still picture in thestill picture group, effective management of information can beperformed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of recording and/or reproducing audioand/or video data on a writeable and/or rewriteable recording medium,comprising: recording a plurality of still pictures in the a firstregion of the recording medium and at least one still picture groupinformation in a second region of the recording medium; and arrangingthe plurality of still pictures in the first region into at least onestill picture group, wherein the one still picture group informationincludes sizes of still pictures in the one still picture group andstart position information of the one still picture group, so as tomanage still pictures at a group level.
 2. The method according to claim1, wherein the still picture group information includes still picturegroup general information containing the start position information forthe one still picture group and information relating to a number ofvideo parts in the one still picture group, and information for eachstill picture in the still picture group, the information for each stillpicture containing position information for the still pictures in theone still picture group.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein theposition information for the still pictures includes size informationfor video parts of the still pictures.
 4. The method according to claim3, wherein the position information includes size information of audioparts for audio data corresponding to the still pictures, and playbacktime information thereof.
 5. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe recording of the still pictures includes recording consecutively theaudio data added to the corresponding still pictures after the stillpictures.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the still picturegroup information includes still picture group general informationcontaining start position information for each still picture group andinformation relating to a number of video parts in each still picturegroup, and information for the still pictures in each still picturegroup, the information for the still pictures containing sizeinformation of each of the still pictures, size information of audiodata corresponding to the still pictures and the playback timeinformation.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:reading the still picture group information to be reproduced inaccordance with the playback information; and calculating a position ofa desired one of the still pictures in accordance with the read stillpicture group information and reproducing the desired still picturelocated at the calculated position.
 8. The method according to claim 7,wherein the calculating of the position of the desired still pictureincludes summing a start position of one of the still picture groups inthe read still picture group information which includes the desiredstill picture and sizes of data preceding the desired still picture. 9.The method according to claim 5, further comprising: reading the stillpicture group information to be reproduced in accordance with theplayback information; calculating a first position of a desired one ofthe still pictures in accordance with the read still picture groupinformation and reproducing the desired still picture located at thecalculated first position; and calculating a second position of audiodata added to the desired still picture in accordance with the readstill picture group information and reproducing the audio data of thecalculated first position.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:the calculating of the first position step includes summing a startposition of one of the still picture groups in the read still picturegroup information which includes the desired still picture and a size ofdata preceding the desired still picture; and the calculating of thesecond position step includes summing the calculated first position ofthe still picture and a size of a video part of the desired stillpicture located at the calculated first position.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: reading the playbackinformation and reading the still picture group information to bereproduced; checking the read still picture group information anddetermining whether the still picture has only a video part, or thestill picture has audio data added thereto; if the still picture hasonly the video part, calculating a first position of a desired one ofthe still pictures and reproducing the desired still picture located atthe calculated first position; and if the still picture has the audiodata added thereto, calculating the first position of the still pictureand a second position of the audio data added thereto and reproducingthe still picture and audio data located at the calculated first andsecond positions.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein thecalculating of the first position of the desired still picture includessumming a start position of one of the still picture groups in the readstill picture group information which includes the desired still pictureand a size of data preceding the desired still picture, and calculatingthe second position of the audio data includes summing the calculatedfirst position of the desired still picture and a size of the video partof the desired still picture.
 13. The method according to claim 1,further comprising: recording audio data corresponding to the stillpictures consecutively after the still pictures; reading the playbackinformation and reading the still picture group information to bereproduced; and reproducing only a desired one of the still pictures orreproducing both the desired still picture and the corresponding audiodata using the still picture group information read according to arequest from a user.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein thereproducing of the desired still picture includes reproducing thedesired still picture located at a first position determined by summingthe start position of one of the still picture groups in the read stillpicture group information which includes the desired still picture and asize of data preceding the desired still picture, and reproducing theaudio data located at the second position determined by summing thefirst position of the desired still picture and a size of a video partof the desired still picture.
 15. A reproduction method of a recordingmedium comprising a first region having data for a plurality ofpictures, a second region having at least one still picture groupinformation, separate from the first region, for arranging the stillpictures in the first region into a number of groups so as to manage thestill pictures at a group level, comprising: reproducing the stillpictures in the first region, based on the still picture groupinformation, including sizes of still pictures in a still picture groupand start position information of the still picture group.
 16. Thereproduction method according to claim 15, wherein the still picturegroup information includes still picture group general informationcontaining start positions of each still picture group and informationrelating to a number of video parts in each still picture group, andinformation for the still pictures of each still picture group, theinformation for the still pictures containing position informationthereof.
 17. The reproduction method according to claim 16, wherein theposition information for the still pictures includes size information ofvideo parts of the still pictures.
 18. The reproduction method accordingto claim 17, wherein the position information for the still picturesfurther includes size information of audio parts for audio data added tothe still pictures, and playback time information thereof.
 19. Thereproduction method according to claim 15, wherein the first regionfurther includes audio data related to the still pictures.
 20. Thereproduction method according to claim 19, wherein the still picturegroup information includes still picture group general informationcontaining start position information for each still picture group andinformation relating to a number of video parts in each still picturegroup, and information for the still pictures in each still picturegroup, the information for the still pictures containing sizeinformation of the still pictures, size information of the correspondingaudio data, and playback time information thereof.
 21. The reproductionmethod according to claim 19, wherein the reproducing of the stillpictures includes reproducing the still pictures in the first region andthe audio data related to the still pictures based on the still picturegroup information.
 22. The reproduction method according to claim 15,wherein the reproducing of the still pictures further comprises: readingthe still picture group information to be reproduced in accordance withthe playback information; and calculating a position of a desired one ofthe still pictures in accordance with the read still picture groupinformation and reproducing the desired still picture located at thecalculated position.
 23. The reproduction method according to claim 22,wherein the calculating of the position of the desired still pictureincludes summing a start position of one of the still picture groups inthe read still picture group information which includes the desiredstill picture and sizes of data preceding the desired still picture. 24.The reproduction method according to claim 15, wherein the recordingmedium further comprises audio data recorded consecutively added aftercorresponding ones of the still pictures, with the reproducing of thestill picture including: reading the still picture group information tobe reproduced in accordance with the playback information; calculating afirst position of a desired one of the still pictures in accordance withthe read still picture group information and reproducing the desiredstill picture located at the calculated first position; and calculatinga second position of audio data added to the desired still picture inaccordance with the read still picture group information and reproducingthe audio data of the calculated first position.
 25. The reproductionmethod according to claim 24, wherein: the calculating of the firstposition includes summing a start position of one of the still picturegroups in the read still picture group information which includes thedesired still picture and a size of data preceding the desired stillpicture; and the calculating of the second position includes summing thecalculated first position of the still picture and a size of a videopart of the desired still picture located at the calculated firstposition.
 26. The reproduction method according to claim 15, wherein thereproducing of the still pictures further comprises: reading theplayback information and reading the still picture group information tobe reproduced; checking the read still picture group information anddetermining whether the still picture has only a video part, or thestill picture has audio data added thereto; if the still picture hasonly the video part, calculating a first position of a desired one ofthe still pictures and reproducing the desired still picture located atthe calculated first position; and if the still picture has the audiodata added thereto, calculating the first position of the still pictureand a second position of the audio data added thereto and reproducingthe still picture and audio data located at the calculated first andsecond positions.
 27. The reproduction method according to claim 26,wherein: the calculating of the first position of the desired stillpicture includes summing a start position of one of the still picturegroups in the read still picture group information which includes thedesired still picture and a size of data preceding the desired stillpicture; and the calculating of the second position of the audio dataincludes summing the calculated first position of the desired stillpicture and a size of the video part of the desired still picture. 28.The reproduction method according to claim 15, wherein the recordingmedium further comprises audio data corresponding to the still picturesconsecutively stored after the still pictures, with the reproducing ofthe still pictures including: reading the playback information andreading the still picture group information to be reproduced; andreproducing only a desired one of the still pictures or reproducing boththe desired still picture and the corresponding audio data using thestill picture group information read according to a request from a user.29. The reproduction method according to claim 28, wherein thereproducing of only a desired one of the still pictures comprises:reproducing the desired still picture located at a first positiondetermined by summing the start position of one of the still picturegroups in the read still picture group information which includes thedesired still picture and a size of data preceding the desired stillpicture, and reproducing the audio data located at the second positiondetermined by summing the first position of the desired still pictureand a size of a video part of the desired still picture.
 30. A method ofreproducing still pictures from a recording medium having a plurality ofthe still pictures arranged into a number of groups and still picturegroup information, in an area of the recording medium separate from anarea storing the plurality of still pictures, having start positions ofeach of the still picture groups and sizes of the still pictures withineach still picture group and playback information related toreproduction, the method comprising: reading the still picture groupinformation in accordance with the playback information; and calculatinga first position of a desired one of the still pictures in accordancewith the read still picture group information and reproducing the stillpicture located at the calculated first position.
 31. The methodaccording to claim 30, wherein the recording medium further has originalaudio data recorded consecutively after corresponding ones of the stillpictures and the still picture group information includes sizes of theoriginal audio data, the method further comprising: calculating a secondposition of the original audio data corresponding to the desired stillpicture in accordance with the read still picture group information andreproducing the original audio data located at the calculated secondposition.
 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein: the calculatingof the first position of the desired still picture includes summing astart position of one of the still picture groups in the read stillpicture group information which includes the desired still picture andsizes of data preceding the desired still picture; and the calculatingof the second position of the original audio data includes summing thecalculated first position of the desired still picture and a size of avideo part of the still picture.
 33. The method according to claim 30,wherein the recording medium further includes cell informationindicating the group of the still picture to be reproduced and areproduction order of the still pictures, the method further comprising;reading the cell information; and determining whether another one of thestill pictures is to be reproduced according to the cell informationafter the reading and decoding of the still picture to be reproduced.34. A method of recording still pictures on a recording medium,comprising: generating still picture group information for arranging thestill pictures into still picture groups in an area of the recordingmedium separate from an area storing the still picture groupinformation, and recording a start address of one of the still picturegroups on the recording medium; and recording still pictures on therecording medium and recording sizes of the still pictures in the stillpicture group information.
 35. The method according to claim 34, furthercomprising: initializing a number indicating how many still pictures arein a corresponding one of the still picture groups; incrementing thenumber in response to each still picture being recorded on the recordingmedium; checking whether the number reaches a limit for still picturesin any still picture group, and repeating the generating and recordingsteps for a next still picture in the same corresponding still picturegroup if the number does not equal the limit.
 36. The method accordingto claim 35, further comprising: checking if a recording start signal isinput by a user prior to recording a still picture on the recordingmedium, and then recording the still picture on the recording medium ifthe recording start signal has been received; determining whether toterminate recording if the recording start signal has not been input;and recording cell information including information indicative of thestill picture group so that the still picture is reproducible.
 37. Themethod according to claim 34, further comprising: determining whether amode is set for recording both one of the still pictures andcorresponding audio data; and recording the audio data consecutivelyafter the one still picture, and a size of the audio data to the stillpicture group information in order.
 38. The method according to claim37, wherein the determining whether the mode is set is after therecording of the one still picture.
 39. The method according to claim37, further comprising: initializing a number indicating how many stillpictures are in a corresponding one of the still picture groups;incrementing the number in response to the one still picture beingrecorded on the recording medium; checking whether the number reaches alimit for still pictures in any still picture group, and repeating thegenerating and recording steps for a next still picture in the samecorresponding still picture group if the number does not equal thelimit.
 40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:checking if a recording start signal is input by a user prior torecording the one still picture on the recording medium, and thenrecording the one still picture on the recording medium if the recordingstart signal has been received; determining whether to terminaterecording if the recording start signal has not been input; andrecording cell information including information indicative of the stillpicture group so that the one still picture is reproducible.
 41. Amethod of reproducing still pictures on a recording medium, wherein therecording medium includes still picture group information for arrangingthe still pictures into still picture groups in an area of the recordingmedium separate from an area storing the still picture groupinformation, start addresses of the still picture groups, sizes of thestill pictures within the corresponding still picture groups, and cellinformation for indicating reproduction of the still pictures, themethod comprising: reading the cell information for one of the stillpictures; reading the still picture group information to determine thestart address of the still picture group of the corresponding one stillpicture; and determining sizes of all still pictures preceding the onestill picture in the corresponding still picture group, and reading theone still picture based upon the start address and the determined sizes.42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the recording mediumfurther includes audio data stored consecutively following at least someof the still pictures, the method further comprising: determiningwhether the audio data is added consecutively after the one stillpicture; and reading the audio data corresponding to the one stillpicture if there is the determination that the audio data is addedconsecutively after the one still picture.